Our first indoor podcast. Because the summer in Germany is best measured in hours and it was cold and rainy in Berlin.

I mean, the Funk Doc and I did our first podcast outdoors in the month of June. If you remember that show, halfway through the damn thing we had to seek a place in the sun because it was too cold in the shade. IN JUNE.

So now, after a brief period of warmth, we are forced indoors to continue our bi-weekly conversations.

This time, the Funk Doc jumps right into a topic that I, The Old Man, always thought he was reluctant to talk about: politics. Actually, he and I both feel that politics is rarely a good topic for a broadcast medium, since people listening will either completely agree with everything you have to report (rather pointless, really), or else they will disagree and most likely ditch their subscription to your podcast (also not good).

However, I think we found a good way to discuss politics without ever overtly discussing politics. Have a listen and tell us what you think.

We also asked an important question: Why make a podcast?

But after listening to the show again, I'm not sure if we answered that question very thoroughly. I suppose we can justify our existence by pointing out that we're the only American expatriate conversation podcast that also plays excellent American music. Until another one comes around we've got that niche covered.

Names that popped up in the chat that are worth checking out include:

• Thomas Frank and his idea of Liberation Marketing (download a copy of his brilliant and funny article below),
• My man Marshall McLuhan for his ideas regarding the conscious consumption of advertising,
• Marilyn Manson,
• Henry Rollins and Henry Rollins's neck

The attentive viewer may have also noticed that The Casual Arts web presence has been altered in recent weeks. During his visit to Weimar for the recording of Show 9, the Funk Doc and I sharpened up the website a bit adding a new front page with the skyline of East Berlin and a (hopefully) more easily navigable interface.

If you got here through our new and improved show notes, be sure to check out the other half of the website devoted to the bi-weekly live show on bauhaus fm college radio here in central Germany. Black background is live show. White background is podcast.

Also added to the show notes (and obviously the website) is a timetable of the current podcast for those of you who have Attention Deficit Disorder.

Timetable and Playlist:

0:00-5:00 - Intro chat / Why no politics

5:00-12:00 - Political Podcasts / Preaching to the converted

12:00-15:00 - Talib Kweli - Africa Dream

15:00-17:00 - Why do a podcast all?

17:00-19:30 - Politics and not politics / Ads and Media

19:30-31:00 - Thomas Frank - Liberation Marketing / Non-conformism / Individuality in the US

31:00-34:00 - Blind Boy Fuller - Cryin' Shame Blues

34:00-39:00 - Gil Scott Heron - Message to the Messengers

39:00-40:00 - Indirect politics

40:00-41:00 - Phone call / Spanish Flea by Herb Alpert

41:00-46:00 - Advertising / Conscious vs. Subconscious / Skepticism / Marshall McLuhan - Understanding Media

46:00-49:00 - Ads and Culture / Branding and Image

49:00-51:00 - Purpose of The Casual Arts / Asking Questions

51:00-55:00 - Talib Kweli feat. De La Soul - Soul Rebels

55:00-57:00 - Next Time / End

Seriously.

This is how the Casual Artscast is beamed to listeners around the world - with a USB stick pushed through a 5-dollar kitchen strainer.

Email the Old Man for more information on increasing your wireless internet reception as well as some delicious pasta recipes.

And Finally...

Coming in November - The University of the Casual Arts: spontaneous conversations with real live European students about US culture, US influence on European life and whatever else Europeans talk about in cafés.

The University of the Casual Arts will be a series of discussions with small groups of students moderated by Old Man J.

More on that later...